At first Navan was taken aback by Aariks anger. He had expected an apprentice to be able to better control his emotions. Putting on his most practiced and most disarming smile, Navan leaned back slightly. He refused to surrender to Aariks temper, but he also wanted to make it clear that he did not wish to fight unless he had no other choice. Until he was able to leap and twist out of reach, he was as good as dead if Aarik attacked him.
"I fear you misunderstood me." He explained calmly, visibly amused now that he found just how simple it seemed to be to upset this creature. "I merely meant that often times one race can find it difficult to tell individuals apart in another race. To an unpracticed eye, two very different wood elves could appear nearly as twins. I know that, on occasion, I have mistaken one human for another. An innocent mistake and nothing more." As he spoke, Navan pulled much effort into keeping the obvious mirth from his voice, not wishing to sound like he were mocking the other.
"And as for knowing every single apprentice, I don't believe you fully heard me. I said apprentice of Note. Ones that are, well, bound for greater things, if you will. Such as yourself. Judging from what I've seen over the past months, you aim to become High Apprentice for your house within the year, am I correct?" The young elf asked, hoping to soothe his ego slightly before turning back to IstaunVale. "Hm, you do make a Very good point. Attracting attention in a place such as this is a delicate balancing act. The slightest misstep, and what once was such an asset could quickly become an overly decorative noose." He chuckled, bowing his head slightly once more.
"I'm pleased to hear that. Tell me, is the information on those papers confidental? Because I would love to hear about what you're working on. Assuming our young friend here isn't planning on breaking my jaw of course."